Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a human rights organisation based in West Bengal regarding an incident where the elected representatives from the local Gram Panchayat [village-level local body] were assaulted, abused and threatened by the Border Security Force [BSF]. It is reported that on 26 May 2007 three members from the Katlamari II Gram Panchayat went to the Kaharpara Camp in connection with a complaint they had received from one of the villagers. At the camp they were ill-treated by the BSF. It is alleged that the Assistant Commandant of the BSF assaulted Mr. Proneet Kumar Pramanik and Mr. Mohamad Molla in front of their chief Ms. Belu Rani Das, the head of the Gram Panchayat.
CASE DETAILS:
It is reported that on 26 May 2007 the elected head of the Katlamari II Gram Panchayat went to the Kaharpara BSF Camp along with two of her colleagues Mr. Proneet Kumar Pramanik and Mr. Mohamad Molla. They reached the camp at about 8am. At the camp they met Mr. Nitish Paramanik, the Assistant Commandant of the 105 Battalion of the BSF stationed at Kaharpara.
It is alleged that the village body had received a complaint from Mr. Sanur Sekh alleging that his election identity card was seized by the BSF officers. It is alleged that in the meanwhile the BSF was also inquiring about a certificate issued from the village council office in favour of a person, Mr. Samsul Seikh, a resident of the village.
Seikh is a local farmer, who had property in a small island in the river Padma. The document was required for Seikh to go to his land. It is alleged that the certificate issued to Seikh was given to the BSF also for their information. Such documents are insisted by the BSF since the river is the border separating India and Bangladesh.
It is alleged that there were some discrepancies in dealing with the certificate involving Seikh and some BSF officers. The Assistant Commandant who came to know about the document and its use by Seikh took Seikh into custody and allegedly assaulted him inside the camp.
The village representatives who reached the camp were allegedly mistreated by the Assistant Commandant. It is also reported that the officer abused the village head, a woman, using vulgar language. The other two members where forced to repeatedly sit and stand, repeatedly. It is alleged that all these happened in full public view. The local public had also gathered near the camp by this time.
Coming out from the camp the village representatives went to the Raninagar police station and filed a complaint on the same day. The compliant was registered as General Diary number 1213 of 26 May 2007. It is alleged that the police is refusing to take any action based on the complaint. Whether the village representatives went to the BSF camp on their own or on a request by the BSF officers, the BSF had no authority to treat these people in an inhuman and degrading manner.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write a letter to the relevant authorities mentioned below, to ensure that the police investigate the case properly.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ____________,
INDIA: Elected representatives abused and assaulted by the Border Security Force
Name and address of the victims:
1. Mr. Samsul Seikh, son of Mr. Fajer Seikh, residing at Ramnagar, Babupara village, Murshidabad district, West Bengal
2. Ms. Belu Rani Das, Head Number 8 Katlamari II Gram Panchayat, Murshidabad, West Bengal
3. Mr. Proneet Kumar Pramanik, Member, Number 8 Katlamari II Gram Panchayat, Murshidabad, West Bengal
4. Mr. Mohhamad Molla, Member, Number 8 Katlamari II Gram Panchayat, Murshidabad, West Bengal
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Nitish Pramanik, the Assistant Commandant, 105 Battalion, The Border Security Force, Kaharpara Camp, Murshidabad, West Bengal
2. Mr. Sunayan Basu, the Officer in Charge, Raninagar Police Station, Murshidabad, west Bengal
I am writing to you to express my concern about the case of inhuman treatment, abuse and insult of three elected members of Katlmari II Gram Panchayat by the Assistant Commandant of the BSF, stationed at Kaharpara, in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. I am informed that the village representatives on 26 May 2007 went to the BSF camp to inquire about a complaint that they have received from Mr. Sanur Sekh, a farmer in the village. Sekh had complained to the village that his election identity card was seized by the BSF.
I am also informed that in the meanwhile the Assistant Commandant was inquiring into a certificate issued by the village representatives in favour of Mr. Samsul Seikh, son of Mr. Fajer Seikh regarding his land. It is alleged that Samsul Seikh was taken into custody the previous day by the BSF and assaulted by the Assistant Commandant in the camp.
I am also informed that the village representatives have filed a complaint at the Raninagar Police Station on 26 May 2007 against which the police have taken no action whatsoever.
I am surprised to hear about the alarming number of cases reported from Murshidabad where the BSF is allegedly involved in atrocious acts against the local population. I therefore urge you to take immediate action against the BSF officer named above. I also urge you to inquire into the alleged act of silence of the Officer in Charge of Raninagar Police Station. I further urge you to look into all cases of atrocities reported against the BSF stationed in Murshidabad, which your office has received thus far.
Sincerely yours
______________
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister/ Minister of Home Department
Government of West Bengal
Writer’s Building
Kolkata – 700 001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480/ 2214 1341
2. Director General Border Security Force
Block 10, CGO Complex
Lodhi Road
New Delhi -03.
Fax: +91 11 24360016
Email: bsfhq@hub.nic.in
3. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi -110001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2334 0016
Email: chairnhrc@nic.in
4. Director General of Police
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings
Kolkata-1
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 4498 / 2214 5486
Email: padgp@wbpolice.gov.in
5. Chief Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata – 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 22144328
6. Home Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata – 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 22143001
Email: sechome@wb.gov.in
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Programme (ua@ahrchk.org)
